PR Officer at the Herpetological Society of Ireland
A story was published in The Sun newspaper today, suggesting that the death of a man in Cork may be the result of a spider bite that occurred the previous year. The piece gained traction and has since been published and shared via several news and social media outlets. Everyone here at the Herpetological Society … More Release Concerning Alleged Fatal Spider Bite
Warning! This post contains images which some readers may find distressing. Alert: Mass Mortality of Frogs Recorded in Kildare Pond On the 24th of February 2014, The Herpetological Society of Ireland (H.S.I) received a report of a mass die-off of common frogs at a location in Co. Kildare. Within 24 hours the H.S.I were … More Alert: Mass Mortality of Frogs Recorded in Kildare Pond
“If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their news sources accordingly.” Thomas Sowell. The Oxford English Dictionary defines journalism as: “The activity or profession of writing for newspapers or magazines or of broadcasting news on radio or television”. Unfortunately, the realities of contemporary journalism are … More How Tabloids Hurt Wildlife…And You.
Name: Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra) Range: Throughout Central and Southern Europe. Habitat is typically upland deciduous forests. Diet: Insectivorious Conservation Status: IUCN – Least Concern The fire salamander is one of Europe’s most striking amphibians. The contrast of bright yellow spots/stripes against a glossy black background gives this species a very distinctive appearance. The species … More Species Profile: Fire Salamander
If you’re a fan of reptiles and amphibians, you can’t be blamed for begrudging Ireland’s sorry lack of cold-blooded fauna. You’re very much in the wrong country if you’re a fan of snakes. As a nation, we have a world renowned reputation for getting “legless” but when it comes to the legless reptiles: ice-ages, climate … More Tetrapod Trackway: The Path Of Our Ancestors.
You could be forgiven for thinking that crocodiles aren’t sensitive. With that thick keratinous skin it’s difficult to imagine they could feel much, but as it turns out, they can feel a great deal more than we realised. Research published today in EvoDevoreveals that crocodilians have sense organs in their skin that are sensitive to … More Crocodile Scales Contain Sensory Micro-Organs.
Anthony Rafferty is an Irish scientist based in Melbourne Australia. In the course of his career he has studied several species of turtle, with particular emphasis on their embryonic development. His body of work includes a fascinating study, published earlier this year in the American Society of Naturalists journal, in which he describes some of … More Herpetologist Profile: Anthony Rafferty
If you handle the egg of a delicate skink, you’ll quickly end up with a sticky mess on your hands (That’s the last double entendre I’m using today I swear). You see, delicate skinks (Lampropholis delicata) have a really cool adaptation: If they are disturbed in-ovum by a would-be predator, they hatch early and make a bolt for … More Premature Evacuation: Skinks Hatch Early to Escape Predators
This post was originally posted on Dar-Winning. Reused with permission. A crocodile’s facial scales are in fact, not scales at all according to a study performed by Dr. Michel Milinkovitch of the University of Geneva, Switzerland. The study, published in Science, has revealed that the characteristic patterning on the face of crocodilians is actually the result of the animal’s skin physically … More Croc Scales: Not All They’re Cracked Up to Be….
Name: Red Eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas). Range: Widespread through Central America, South Eastern Mexico and the North West of Colombia. Diet: Insectivorious Conservation Status: IUCN – Least Concern This colourful species is perhaps one of the world’s better known frogs. Its bright colours and and cartoon-like features have made it a poster-child for many … More Species Profile: Red Eyed Tree Frog
The Herpetological Society of Ireland 